Calla lily plant named &#39;Royal Plum&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Royal Plum’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having red-purple colored spathes. The flower stems are strong and long lasting. The leaves are green with maculations present.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/766,205, having a filing date of Oct. 4, 2018,and entitled “Varieties of Z. sprengeri Calla Lily Plants”, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Royal Plum’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Royal Plum’.

‘Royal Plum’ is a product of a planned breeding program and the newcultivar was selected from the crossing of unpatented Zantedeschiarehmannii x Zantedeschia elliottiana seedling 52059A (female parent)with unpatented Zantedeschia rehmannii x Zantedeschia elliottianaseedling 52059A (male parent). ‘Royal Plum’ was selected in Santa Cruz,Calif. as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

Asexual reproductions of ‘Royal Plum’ have demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new varietyare retained and reproduced true to type through successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

Color references are made to the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, 4^(th) Edition, except where generalcolor terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Royal Plum’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Red-purple colored spathes;

2. Strong peduncles; and

3. Leaf maculations present.

Table 1 provides a comparison of ‘Royal Plum’ to similar Zantedeschiasprengeri varieties ‘Twilight’ (unpatented) and ‘California Red’(unpatented). Further, the plant and spathes are taller than those of‘Twilight’.

TABLE 1 Comparison Comparison Present variety variety Differing trait(s)expression expression ‘Twilight’ Spathe color Lavender Red-Purple GroupRHS 61A Peduncle strength 14 days to 28 days to nodding nodding‘California Red’ Leaf maculations None present Present

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Type: Deciduous.-   Main use: Potted plant and cut flower.-   Disease/pest resistance: Strong tolerance to Pythium root rot and    Erwinia bulb soft rot.-   Leaves: Green, with maculations present.-   Spathe:    -   -   Length.—Medium.        -   Width.—Medium.        -   Throat spot.—Present.        -   Color.—Red-Purple Group RHS 61A.-   Peduncle: Strong and erect, with no nodding observed until day 28.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘RoyalPlum’ as herein described and illustrated.